Vertical Curve System for Surface Grading

1. A method of generating a design surface that promotes water drainage from soil in an area of interest, the method comprising: (a) acquiring topographic data for an initial surface in an area of interest; (b) providing the topographic data and a set of initial profile design parameters to a means for defining initial profiles; (c) calculating a plurality of initial profiles adhering to the initial profile design parameters; (d) providing the plurality of initial profiles and a set of balancing design parameters to a means for optimizing a cut/fill volume balance; (e) generating a plurality of design profiles with the means for optimizing a cut/fill volume balance which is a microprocessor executing a genetic algorithm, wherein the plurality of design profiles is substantially at balance; and, (f) generating a design surface from the plurality of design profiles.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising representing the initial surface and the design surface with a triangulated network.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: (g) directing one or more earth-moving machines to create the design surface in the area of interest.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the means for defining initial profiles comprises a microprocessor.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of balancing design parameters comprise one or more of a minimum profile slope, a maximum profile slope, an optimal profile slope, a maximum profile depth, an optimal profile depth, a starting profile elevation, an ending profile elevation, a profile curvature limit, and an earth balancing limit.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of balancing design parameters comprise a minimum profile slope, a maximum profile depth, and an optimal profile depth.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of balancing design parameters comprise an earth balancing limit of about 0.1 or less, as applied to each design profile.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the design profiles are curved vertically.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising performing at least one of steps (a)-(f) in the area of interest.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before step (c), a step of providing a previously existing design to the means for defining initial profiles.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the previously existing design comprises tiling data or ditching data.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein: the plurality of initial profiles comprises a plurality of first initial profiles and a plurality of second initial profiles, the second initial profiles being generally oriented in a direction different from that of the first initial profiles and intersecting the first initial profiles; and, step (e) further comprises: (e-1) generating a plurality of intermediate profiles with the means for optimizing a cut/fill volume balance along the length of the first initial profiles, wherein the plurality of intermediate profiles is substantially at balance; (e-2) generating an intermediate surface from the plurality of intermediate profiles; and, (e-3) generating the plurality of design profiles relative to the intermediate surface with the means for optimizing a cut/fill volume balance along the length of the second initial profiles, wherein the plurality of design profiles is substantially at balance.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first initial profiles and the second initial profiles are substantially perpendicular at their intersection.

14. A method of generating a design surface that promotes water drainage from soil in an area of interest, the method comprising: (a) acquiring topographic data for an initial surface in an area of interest; (b) calculating a plurality of initial profiles based on the topographic data and a set of initial profile design parameters; (c) generating a plurality of design profiles from the plurality of initial profiles and a set of balancing design parameters by optimizing a cut/fill volume balance which is a microprocessor executing a genetic algorithm, wherein the plurality of design profiles is substantially at balance; (d) generating a design surface from the plurality of design profiles; and, (e) directing one or more earth-moving machines to create the design surface in the area of interest.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the set of balancing design parameters comprise one or more of a minimum profile slope, a maximum profile slope, an optimal profile slope, a maximum profile depth, an optimal profile depth, a starting profile elevation, an ending profile elevation, a profile curvature limit, and an earth balancing limit.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the set of balancing design parameters comprise an earth balancing limit of about 0.1 or less, as applied to each design profile.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the design profiles are curved vertically.

18. The method of claim 14 , comprising performing at least one of steps (a)-(d) in the area of interest.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein: the plurality of initial profiles comprises a plurality of first initial profiles and a plurality of second initial profiles, the second initial profiles being generally oriented in a direction different from that of the first initial profiles and intersecting the first initial profiles; and, step (c) further comprises: (c-1) generating a plurality of intermediate profiles by optimizing a cut/fill volume balance along the length of the first initial profiles, wherein the plurality of intermediate profiles is substantially at balance; (c-2) generating an intermediate surface from the plurality of intermediate profiles; and, (c-3) generating the plurality of design profiles relative to the intermediate surface by optimizing a cut/fill volume balance along the length of the second initial profiles, wherein the plurality of design profiles is substantially at balance.